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Original poster

Has anyone travelled through Manchester Airport recently?

48 replies

BlueSpottedGiraffe · 17/03/2022 08:55

And can advise what the queues for security were like?

We are due to travel from T2 the week after next and I'm reading lots of horror stories about the queues for security in recent weeksConfused. At first it was just local newspapers posting articles on social media which I always take with a pinch of salt anyway but in the last few days I've been seeing lots of complaints on Twitter too.

We always arrive 3 hours early for a flight anyway but seeing it's taking people 2+ hours to get through security is making me worry! And purchasing fast track doesn't appear to get you anywhere either.

So just wondering if anyone has travelled through recently and can advise? I'm not too bothered about the queues on the way home at border force, obviously it's not what you want after a long flight but I'm mostly worried about the queues for security on our way.

OP posts:
Otherpeoplesteens · 17/03/2022 10:39

Flew last month from T2 (Tui Airways).

Security was fine, because the checkin/bag drop took four hours and there was only a trickle of people going through security at any time. Queue went from the Tui section of the check-in hall all the way to the railway station and back before it even went into the actual queuing area. Total chaos. Even the armed police were getting antsy with Tui staff.

It seems that a lot of baggage handlers were furloughed during the pandemic and have never come back. I read last week that Manchester Airports Group were even asking parking attendants and firefighters to haul baggage around.

I wouldn't bother with Fast Track as if you're holding up a flight they'll let you go to the front anyway. I certainly wouldn't pay for Lounge access, because you just won't be able to use it.

Original poster
BlueSpottedGiraffe · 17/03/2022 10:49

Oh gosh sounds stressful! I am assuming it was the same for other airlines too or could you not tell?

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bettybyebye · 17/03/2022 10:50

Flew from T2 (with Jet2) on the 4th March. Am afraid it was as bad as you have heard. We had checked in online but still had to join a huge queue at jet2 to effectively check in again (even though we only needed to bag drop). We then had to queue to use a self service machine to print the labels for the cases, and then had to join another queue to actually drop the bags off! By this point it was so congested and chaotic that a load of us got sent to the outsize baggage desk to drop the cases.
Then it was time to join the huge security queue - we probably had to queue for 2-300 metres before we even got to the official start of the security queue (the queue was snaking all the way round the departure hall). It took forever, and eventually they started calling for anyone with a 9am flight to go to the front of the queue, so we were able to bypass a bit of the queue.
Because they had done that we just had enough time to nip to the loo and buy some food from pret before boarding. And the plane still took off late due to others being delayed in the security queue…
Awful experience. We are due to fly from there again in July with the kids and just hope things are better by then!

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MagpiePi · 17/03/2022 11:06

Oh no! I'm flying out from T2 next week.
Just checked twitter and it looks like early morning flights are quicker - I'm flying at 7:30am so hope it won't be too bad.

Original poster
BlueSpottedGiraffe · 17/03/2022 11:14

@bettybyebye sounds a nightmare! I think we need to arrive in plenty of time although I guess one positive to take from it is that they are at least calling flights through where lots of passengers are stuck.

We are flying at 1pm so going to be in the thick of it I think Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
BlueSpottedGiraffe · 17/03/2022 11:15

I'm already anxious about getting a negative covid test the day before we travel and now I have this to worry about too!

OP posts:
Pedallleur · 17/03/2022 19:17

Huge queues today with flights being missed. Google Manchester airport. Bound to be something on there. There is on the BBC site

Original poster
BlueSpottedGiraffe · 17/03/2022 19:21

@Pedallleur

Huge queues today with flights being missed. Google Manchester airport. Bound to be something on there. There is on the BBC site
Yes I'd seen it hit the news properly today hence the thread asking just how bad it is Grin
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TheLeadbetterLife · 17/03/2022 19:22

God this sounds horrendous. We're due to fly into Manchester next week, but flying back from Bristol - does anyone know if Bristol is bad?

I hate flying so much these days, because of the airport bullshit, I don't think I'm going to do it anymore unless I absolutely have to (e.g. for work). Trains, cars and ferries only from now on.

MissAmbrosia · 17/03/2022 19:48

Ill only have carry on and just spent £5 on security fast pass. My flight, not a holiday one, still goes from terminal 2.

featheryfancy · 17/03/2022 19:56

I flew from terminal 1 on Sunday, just after 4pm with no issues at all.
Straight through security with no queues at all. Had priority boarding but didn't even use it.
The bars and restaurants were all pretty busy once through but even then we managed to get seated after a 10 min wait.

RussianSpy101 · 17/03/2022 19:59

Flew into T1 last Thursday. Absolutely no issues with security but we waited 1.5 hours for our luggage.

featheryfancy · 17/03/2022 20:00

I fly back in tomorrow night.
Fingers crossed it's all as smooth as coming out but I will come back to update if we run into problems

BellaVita · 17/03/2022 20:02

Flew from Manchester on the 5th of this month and back in on the 10th.

No problems whatsoever.

Security a breeze.

LemonCake79 · 17/03/2022 20:04

I flew out yesterday for work. It was disgraceful, queues so long they had to hold the plane back and 30 people still missed it.

My bag is still missing, might get it Monday apparently.

Good luck OP.

LemonCake79 · 17/03/2022 20:04

I should add I'll be back by Monday.... dreading the return, I've heard that's worse.

notacooldad · 17/03/2022 20:05

I'm guessing it's slightly easier hand luggage only? We are cabin bags. Are the queues horrendous for that as well or is the hain hold up at dropping cases.

LemonCake79 · 17/03/2022 20:43

@notacooldad it was all awful. The worst bit for me was security, hardly any of the stations were manned.

I should have just taken hand luggage though. Live and learn I guess.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-60778493.amp

JMPB · 17/03/2022 20:45

Flew from T2 a week ago, was busy but only took us 1.5 hours to drop bags and get through security. Give yourself enough time but if you were running late for your flight they were taking you to the front of the que for security to get you through quicker.

We got there 3 hours before our flight and had plenty of time. Flew to Tenerife with Tui x

ForestDad · 17/03/2022 20:49

@TheLeadbetterLife

God this sounds horrendous. We're due to fly into Manchester next week, but flying back from Bristol - does anyone know if Bristol is bad?

I hate flying so much these days, because of the airport bullshit, I don't think I'm going to do it anymore unless I absolutely have to (e.g. for work). Trains, cars and ferries only from now on.

Bristol fine, Manchester as bad as reported. Smile
Rainbowshit · 17/03/2022 20:49

Yes it was fucking awful. Nearly missed our flight. Leave yourself a lot of time and buy fast track if you can.

Original poster
BlueSpottedGiraffe · 17/03/2022 21:11

A few positive stories had me more hopeful but maybe not Grin. Going to arrive 4 hours before and hope for the best, we are flying long haul so definitely need to take our checked in bags!

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FeelingTooHotHotHot · 17/03/2022 21:55

Manchester airport sacked all of their security staff at the beginning of the pandemic and are now frantically trying to rush several classes of new intake staff through in order to be ready for April.

mnahmnah · 17/03/2022 21:59

We had this experience in 2018, nearly missed our flight and we swore we wouldn’t go from Manchester again. We’ve booked to go from there this summer for the first time since and beginning to wish we hadn’t! How can they not have this sorted?! We’ve booked priority check-in and boarding but not sure that will help now

Sirzy · 17/03/2022 22:02

My partner flew from T1 today. Took him 2 and a half hours to get through security.